The city of New York is opening the nation’s first transgender-only homeless shelter.
The shelter, a partnership between a local LGBTQ nonprofit and the city government, will cost the city an extraordinary $65 million and will be the first transgender homeless shelter in the nation.
Further details were outlined in a joint press release:
There will also be a full-time psychiatric nurse practitioner onsite who will work closely with the social workers and other credentialed staff to provide comprehensive mental health support.
On-site clinical staff will provide health education through coaching and counseling with the end goal of improved health outcomes and increasing clients’ self-sufficiency.
This model will offer specialized services to address depression, anxiety, and other challenges our residents may experience.
Destination Tomorrow will also employ holistic approaches to health and mental wellness with programs offering yoga and meditation.
In addition, Destination Tomorrow is developing a work study program for culinary arts, this will provide hands-on experience and internship opportunities for residents seeking careers in hospitality and food service.
DSS and Destination Tomorrow will work closely with key community stakeholders to identify collaborative ways to better serve and support New York City’s thriving LGBTQ+ community.
“ We’ve watched so many other corporations and foundations and businesses just like completely turn their back on the community and the city didn’t do it,” said Sean Ebony Coleman, founder and CEO of Destination Tomorrow, the nonprofit that will manage the shelter for the city.
“The city is keeping in line with what New York City has always been, a sanctuary city, a safe haven, but more importantly, a trendsetter when it comes to LGBTQ rights.”
City officials are openly championing the initiative, with Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park declaring they “could not be prouder” of the announcement.
“Ace’s Place will offer Transgender New Yorkers a safe place to heal and stabilize in trauma-informed settings with the support of staff who are deeply invested in their growth and wellbeing,” she added.
The opening comes amid a broader homelessness crisis in New York City, where more than 100,000 people are estimated to be without stable housing on any given night.
The city’s shelter system is already stretched thin, with demand rising due to a combination of economic hardship, an influx of illegal aliens ,and a severe shortage of affordable housing.
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